Taking Back Fun Day

Red Star emerged into the diner’s seating area near the side entrance. It seemed now to be empty except for Party, who was leaning forward on the table, his head resting on his arms and gently snoring with a half empty coffee mug resting on a folded piece of paper and sitting on the table next to him. Red chuckled quietly to herself; the rest would certainly do him good, but he would surely be better resting in his bed. Noting no sounds coming from the kitchen, she assumed everyone was now outside helping Larry with the car.

Rounding the corner to head for the kitchen to fetch coffee for Dr Death Defying, Red pulled up sharply, her mouth falling open and her eyes widening in shock. Near the diner’s double doors, Jet lay partly on the floor and partly propped up against Coffin Dancer’s right leg. His head was pulled so far back, Red couldn’t see if his eyes were open or not and the tip of Coffin’s teal coloured ray gun was forced into his neck. Automatically, Red glanced beyond the double doors leading outside, where she knew everyone else must be, before Coffin called her attention back.

“Don’t say a word and throw your gun on the floor, over there,” he smirked, nodding to the other side of the room. “Everyone’s unconscious; must have been a bad batch of coffee.”

Red stared at him with a curious mixture of fury and fear, livid at what he had done but scared for Jet’s safety. Removing her purple and green painted gun from her holster with just two fingers, she tossed it aside, keeping both eyes on the blond man in front of her.

“I know Death Defying is still awake, but if you make a sound to alert him, I’ll kill your brother. Got it?”

Red stared back, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“No one told you that Jet’s my brother,” she frowned, keeping her voice low so as not to endanger Jet further.

Coffin smirked; it was the sort of superior, gloating smirk that you just wanted to wipe off - violently.

“Well, maybe I already knew?” He chuckled. “Put these on,” he added throwing a set of handcuffs and ankle restraints over to her.

Bending to pick them up, Red knew there was nothing she could do to prevent whatever was going to happen. All of the Killjoys were drugged and unconscious, Dr Death Defying was in the motel section of the diner, but even if he came through, it seemed likely that Coffin would kill him to achieve what he was planning. Looking at the restraints, she sighed; once they were on she knew she could not attack, but with a gun to Jet’s head, she had little choice. Fastening the cuffs around her ankles, she moved to stand only to be stopped.

“Ah, ah,” he warned, “I want to hear at least three more clicks with each one.”

Scowling furiously, Red bent down and tightened the restraints.

“Happy now?” She growled, her livid expression raising a smile from Coffin.
“Oh, yes,” he confirmed. “Now, wrists.”

Fastening one cuff on her right wrist, Red was about to attach the other only to be interrupted once more.

“Now, you know I meant behind you, don’t you?” He laughed at her obvious distress and anger. “Now, turn around so I can see you’re doing it properly. You don’t want me to kill Jet, do you?”

Red looked over her shoulder; her expression one of sheer ferocity.

“No,” she snapped. “But I will kill you. Slowly and painfully.”
“Just put the restraints on and shut up. Save me the effort of gagging you.”

Red closed the cuff on her left hand, and hearing jet drop to the floor, she turned sharply.

“What now?” She glared angrily at Coffin. “Who are you working for?”
“Who do you think?” Coffin smirked.
“You took Ghoul, didn’t you? And made it look like it was Sorby.”
“It was Sorby,” he shrugged. “Right up to the point that Korse killed him. Better for you, really.”
“What?” Red’s brow creased in astonishment. “How could that possibly be good for me?”
“Well, maybe not you specifically, but Sorby had his lecherous eye on Party and you wouldn’t have wanted that, would you?”
“Don’t even pretend that you have any of our interests at heart,” Red spat with unconcealed loathing.
“To be fair, I might not have collected on you if the Killjoys had treated me fairly when I arrived. I really didn’t know about the android.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” She snorted her disdain. “You expect me to believe that?”

Coffin shook his head, a smile on his lips as he did.

“Honestly? I don’t care. Let’s go,” he motioned for her to step outside with him, “before Death Defying doesn’t defy death anymore.”

Frowning deeply, Red knew exactly what he meant and shuffled towards him as he headed to the diner’s double doors.

“What does Korse want with me?” She asked as they reached the diner entrance.
“Are you serious?” Coffin asked, rolling his eyes. “He has Ghoul, so Party’s under control. Now with you, Jet and Kobra won’t make any moves. The Killjoys are neutralised.”
“That won’t last,” Red spat the words in distaste.
“You know?” Coffin began with a grin. “I think he’s banking on that.”
“What!” Red’s eyes widened, wondering what the exterminator had in mind. “What do you mean?” She continued as he gripped her arm painfully to drag her outside.

Squinting in the sunlight, Red’s eyes slowly grew accustomed to the bright light.

“What do you mean?” She repeated, more insistent this time.
“Korse gets bored easily,” he chuckled. “This will keep Director Katsumi happy for a while, but when, as you say, they attempt a rescue, he gets to launch Plan B.”
“And what’s Plan B?” Red asked with curiosity - the more information she had the more likely she could prevent it if she managed to escape.
“I don’t have specifics, but I think Korse just wants to repay Party for the humiliation and torture he suffered when they left Battery City.”
“Korse was tortured?” Red stopped suddenly in her tracks, only to be pulled forward again toward’s Coffin’s car parked at the side of the diner furthest from the motel.
“Of course,” Coffin laughed. “How do you think he’s the way he is? He was committed to the second level of existence.”
“What’s that exactly?”
“Surely you’ve heard of the four levels of existence?” He frowned at her as they reached the car.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I know what they are,” she shrugged awkwardly.
“First level - indoctrination, second level - all or selected emotions removed, third level - all or at least most memories removed, fourth level - dead.”

Red gave the information a moment’s thought; was it truly the reason he was the way he was?

“Of course,” Coffin laughed as he opened the trunk, “from what I heard he was a dangerous, self-serving, heartless bastard before he was committed to LE2. Hop in.”

Red glared at the blond man.

“Yeah? What’s your excuse?” She growled.
“Get in,” he snapped in return.
“You’re taking me six zones in this heat locked in the trunk?” She gasped in disbelief.

Without a word but with a huff of irritation, Coffin pushed her forcefully, scooping up her legs as she tumbled in, crying out in a combination of pain and shock. Slamming the trunk, he dusted his hands off and quickly ran to the driving seat, heading off in a squeal of metal on metal and a flurry of sand.

*

Fun Ghoul’s head hurt like crazy, as did his hands; stinging as if they were on fire. He was lying down and he was at the very least comfortable but that feeling of comfort was soon dispelled as he heard a voice to his right.

“He’s coming round.”

It was a female voice and one he didn’t recognise, but swiftly followed by a male voice that was very familiar to him.

“About time too,” the man growled impatiently.
“What now?” Ghoul whispered hoarsely, trying his best to sound bored rather than scared.

The tone, only partially successful was fooling no one, least of all Exterminator Korse who merely chuckled unpleasantly and stepped closer.

“Ah, Fun Ghoul, I’m so glad you asked.”

Ghoul opened his eyes and stared up at his tormentor. Filled with a combination of hatred and fear, it was only then that he realised he was strapped to a padded gurney. He wasn’t entirely surprised, he was hardly expecting to wake in a soft bed with breakfast provided, but he couldn’t help but wonder what Korse had planned for him this time. At the same time, the exterminator’s smug and gloating expression only served to heighten his fear.

“Are you?” Ghoul replied, his tone slightly more convincing this time.
“Don’t pretend you’re not scared Ghoul,” Korse raised an eyebrow. “I can see by your heartbeat and adrenaline levels how you’re feeling. Let’s see if I can put you at ease.”
“Put me at ease?” Ghoul scoffed. “Now who’s lying?”

Korse leaned over the younger man menacingly, placing a hand either side of his waist, his eyes boring into him with what seemed to Ghoul to be more than a hint of mania in them. The younger man’s heart rate began to rise simply from the proximity of the man and his deeply threatening demeanour.

“Did I say ease?” Korse smiled, but it was an unnerving and cruel smile when viewed in combination with his cold stare. “You’re right, I didn’t mean that. But what I am going to do is eradicate your rebellious ways, permanently.”

Ghoul paled as he spoke the words. Harrison had already told him about the new Kanslokal serum they were developing that would attach to and could alter DNA. As it was explained to him, the alteration of his DNA would affect any children he fathered, rendering them permanently compliant and loyal to BLI, but Harrison hadn’t mentioned how it would affect him.

“I’m aware that Dr Harrison has explained something of the drug we’re about to use on you, but let me introduce you to Professor Lindstrom who will explain your fate in greater detail.” Korse stood upright once more and indicated to the woman who had spoken on Ghoul’s waking. “Professor?”

The woman stepped closer, her open lab coat revealed her clothes were dark and functional, hanging loose with no attempt at moulding to her slender figure. Her hair, also dark with some flashes of grey scattered throughout was cut in a short but shapeless style. She wore glasses that seemed to have been chosen in haste with no thought for fit or flattery and over the top of them, she was staring harshly at Korse.

“Exterminator Korse, if you wish to terrify the subject, then by all means do so, but I have neither the time nor the inclination. I have work to do,” she pushed Ghoul’s sleeve out of the way and prepared to inject the clear liquid in the syringe she held, “and my time is better spent in the lab and not wasting my time telling him something he won’t even remember after it’s taken effect.”

At another time, Ghoul might have laughed at the scornful response that Korse was subjected to, but now as he looked at the syringe, his face creased in abject terror, he tried desperately to pull away to no avail. The straps holding him, and his right arm in particular, where fastened firmly and there was nothing he could do except struggle in vain.

“Keep still!” She ordered, oblivious to Ghoul’s fear, before pressing down on his arm to hold it in place.
“No!” He cried as the needle pierced his skin. “No, please! I’ll do anything!” He cried, more as a delaying tactic than out of any real intention to do BLI’s bidding willingly.

As the syringe pump was pressed forcing the liquid into Ghoul’s arm, Korse stepped closer again, a look of gleeful cruelty etched on his face. Turning his gaze to smirk at the terrified Killjoy, he revelled in his terror.

“Yes, Ghoul, you will.” He laughed. “That is entirely the purpose.”

As the serum spread slowly up Ghoul’s arm, he grimaced in pain before a scream of agony burst from his lips. Trying desperately to struggle, as if he could flee from the cause, he writhed, or at least attempted to, on the gurney. His screams punctuated by whimpers, he squeezed his eyes closed and bit down on his lip as his head, the only part of him not held in place, thrashed from side to side.

“P-please,” he begged, his eyelashes dampened by the effort of keeping his eyes tight shut. “I’m on fire!”

Korse turned a concerned glance to Lindstrom who was merely packing the few pieces of equipment she had brought from the lab in a small case. She seemed disinterested in Ghoul’s response, but Korse was well aware that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

“Is this supposed to happen?” He asked, concerned that something may have gone wrong.
“What?” She turned, apparently oblivious to Ghoul’s suffering. Looking down with a dispassionate and indifferent gaze, she tipped her head lightly as if thinking. “Yes, I suppose so.”
“You suppose?” Korse frowned deeply. “I’m not paying you to suppose. I’m paying you for answers.”

Lindstrom closed the case with what managed to be a sharp passive-aggressive click and turned a cool stare towards the exterminator.

“Exterminator Korse, I have witnessed several responses to the drug with the prisoners I’ve tested it on.”
“And?” Korse prompted.
“This reaction falls within expected parameters,” she replied coldly.
“So,” Korse smirked. “It’s quite painful then?”

Lindstrom glanced from Korse to Ghoul and back again.

“Exterminator Korse,” she began again. “The drug is ravaging and, in part, destroying the make up of his body at cellular level. Of course it’s painful. In fact,” her face momentarily displayed a look of respect for the Killjoy, “he seems to have a very high pain threshold. Most of the prisoners passed out in the first few moments.”

Korse glanced suspiciously at Ghoul, before recalling his ability to survive the torture inflicted on him but even that thought drew another frown.

“He was severely weakened from torture, are you certain this is normal?” He pressed.
“I’ve tested it on ten men, Exterminator Korse, it’s hardly a statistically viable sample,” she replied with disdain, all but rolling her eyes at the question.
“Give me your informed guess then,” he replied through gritted teeth.
“I already have,” she snapped. “But if you want further confirmation, it is possible that the torture he was subjected to has increased his pain tolerance or more specifically his endorphin levels.”
“Can you test for that?” Korse continued.
“To what end?” She frowned.

Korse paused; she was right, what did it matter what affect the torture had on him? What mattered was how the serum worked and it was certainly affecting him greatly. Later, a second injection, this time with regular Kanslokal would ensure his compliance. By permanently attaching to the altered DNA, he would be under their control at last. The thought brought a sly smile to Korse’s lips.

“Never mind. When can he have the Kanslokal?”

Lindstrom looked down, Ghoul was silent and no longer struggling.

“He’s unconscious now,” she pursed her lips as she considered the speed of the drug. “An hour, maybe two?”
“Thank you, Professor, you have been most helpful.”

Nodding, Lindstrom turned had headed back to the laboratory leaving Korse to gloat over his new prize.

“You will finish what I started with Poison and the Killjoys will be killed by their own.”

Notes

Hello lovely readers! I took advantage of the Easter break to get a bit of writing done. I hope you like the chapter and aren’t too worried about dear sweet Ghoul who is too pretty and wonderful to have to deal with all this :’(

Take care and thanks for reading!!
Sas xx